Afghan presidential elections to be held in 2014

Kabul,
Thu, 04 Oct 2012ANI

KABUL Oct. 4 (Xinhua-ANI): The Afghan presidential elections will be held in 2014 in accordance with the country's constitution, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Thursday, denying reports that foreign troops' withdrawal and insecurity will suspend the elections.

"I am convinced and the government as well as the people of Afghanistan are firmly determined to hold the presidential elections in 2014 in accordance with the constitution and that no motives, no reasons, no security incidents and no foreign misinformation will put back the arrangements to hold the election on time," Karzai told reporters in a press conference in his fortified palace here.

He made this comment amid reports by some Afghan political parties that Karzai is going to make ways and exploit his authority to run for the third time in the next presidential election.

President Karzai took power as the first elected president of Afghanistan in December 2004 for a five-year term and his second term as elected president began in November 2009 for another five years.

According to the U.S. President Barack Obama's withdrawal plan, the last of 33,000 U.S. surge troops, pulled out from Afghanistan in September.

The ultimate goal is to transfer lead security responsibility to the Afghan forces by 2014. (Xinhua-ANI)